“We have been included in the most recent article on the best field trip locations to visit in Connecticut by the international educational publisher Twinkl- you can read more here.”
School Field Trips at the Mattatuck Museum
The Mattatuck Museum offers guided school tours, art programs, and after-school experiences for students in grades PreK–12 in Waterbury, Connecticut. Visits are available in-person and virtually, with programs starting at $10 per student. Each experience connects to Connecticut curriculum standards and brings art, history, and culture to life through the museum’s permanent collections.
The Mattatuck Museum was recently recognized by international educational publisher Twinkl as one of the best field trip destinations in Connecticut.
📍 144 West Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06702 | 📞 (203) 753-0381
🗓️ Book at least 2 weeks in advance | ♿ Wheelchair accessible | 🚌 Bus parking on Park Place
School Tours — In-Person & Virtual
School visits engage students in meaningful conversations about art and history that bring classroom lessons to life using the museum’s collections. Each tour is a 60-minute live presentation led by a trained Museum Educator.
💰 $15 per student | In-person or virtual
| Grade | Program | Description |
|---|---|---|
| PreK – Grade 2 | Custom offerings | Contact Lillian Hayward for available programs |
| Grade 3 | Then and Now | Students visit the history exhibit to learn how and why Waterbury has grown and changed over time |
| Grade 4 | Learning to Look | Using Visual Thinking Strategies, students discover the Early American, Modern, and Contemporary art collections |
| Grade 5 | Peoples of Waterbury | Students explore Waterbury’s transformation from an agricultural center in the 1600s to an industrial leader in the 19th and 20th centuries |
| Grades 6–12 | Custom offerings | Contact Lillian Hayward for available programs |
Add-On Art Programs
Enhance your school tour with a hands-on art activity for just $5 more per student (added to the tour cost).
| Grade | Program | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PreK – Grade 2 | Custom offerings | — | Contact Lillian Hayward for options |
| Grade 3 | Iroquois Beaded Pouch | 30 min | Students create a container from kraft paper and decorate it with motifs that express their own heritage, community, or environment |
| Grade 4 | Learning to Look | 60 min | Paired with the gallery tour using Visual Thinking Strategies |
| Grade 5 | Peoples of Waterbury | 60 min | Paired with the industrial history exploration |
| Grades 6–12 | Custom offerings | — | Contact Lillian for options |
After-School Programs for Schools & Organizations
The Mattatuck Museum offers after-school programs for schools and youth organizations, available in-person and virtually. Most programs are 60 minutes with a minimum of 12 and maximum of 60 participants.
Grades K–12
Escape the Mattatuck Museum! Teams jump from painting to painting, collecting clues and solving riddles in this collaborative escape room experience. 🖥️ Virtual: $125
Grades K–2
Art and Literacy: Narrative Quilts Students read Tar Beach by artist Faith Ringgold, then create their own narrative quilts inspired by her story. 🖥️ Virtual: $100 | 🏛️ In-Person: $150
Mattatuck Mini Masters Explore the work of world-renowned and local artists, then create your own variation. Available as a multi-week experience! 🖥️ Virtual: $150 | 🏛️ In-Person: $150
Grades 3–8
Building Artistic Literacy Students actively experience and derive meaning from different art forms, building curiosity and critical thinking. 🖥️ Virtual: $95
Kay Sage Who was Kay Sage, and how did her work end up at the Mattatuck Museum? Explore the life and legacy of this extraordinary 20th-century surrealist painter. 🖥️ Virtual: $95 | 🏛️ In-Person: $150
Fortune’s Story Learn about the history of slavery in Waterbury through the life of Fortune, an enslaved man living in 18th-century Waterbury. 🖥️ Virtual: $95 | 🏛️ In-Person: $150
Grades 6–12
Mindfulness Through Art Students learn the foundations of mindfulness using art as an entry point — an invaluable skill for navigating life’s stresses. 🖥️ Virtual: $95
Genealogy Students explore museum resources and learn how to use them for genealogical research. 🖥️ Virtual: $95 | 🏛️ In-Person: $150
In-Person Visit Guidelines
- Group size: Minimum 6, maximum 75 students | Groups divided into sections of 15–20
- Booking lead time: At least 2 weeks in advance
- Chaperones: 1 adult per 10 students required | Required chaperones admitted free
- Pricing: Guided Tour: $10/student | Guided Tour + Art Program: $15/student
- Lunch/snacks: The museum cannot provide food. Schools may reserve the Studio, Classroom, or Terrace (based on availability) when booking
- Bus parking: Available in the museum’s lot on Park Place
- Accessibility: The museum is fully wheelchair accessible
- Gallery rules: No food, drink, pens, or cell phones in galleries. Graphite pencils and flash-free photography are permitted. No backpacks or large bags — a bin is provided. Walk at all times, use inside voices, stay with your group
How to Book
For school tours and add-on art programs: Contact Lillian Hayward, Education and Tour Coordinator 📧 lillian@mattmuseum.org | 📞 (203) 753-0381 ext. 118
For after-school programs and further school collaborations: Contact Jason Foberg, Director of Education 📧 jason@mattmuseum.org | 📞 (203) 753-0381 ext. 114
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Mattatuck Museum offer school field trips? Yes. The Mattatuck Museum offers guided school tours, art programs, and after-school experiences for students in grades PreK–12 in Waterbury, CT. Programs are available in-person and virtually.
How much do school field trips cost at the Mattatuck Museum? Guided school tours are $10 per student. Tours with an add-on art program are $15 per student. Virtual school tours are $15 per student. After-school programs range from $95–$150 depending on the program.
How do I book a school trip to the Mattatuck Museum? Contact Lillian Hayward, Education and Tour Coordinator, at lillian@mattmuseum.org or (203) 753-0381 ext. 118. Book at least 2 weeks in advance.
What grade levels do the school programs serve? The Mattatuck Museum offers programs for PreK through Grade 12. Named programs are available for Grades 3, 4, and 5; custom programs for PreK–2 and Grades 6–12 are available by contacting the education team.
Are school tours available virtually? Yes. Most school tours and after-school programs are available as virtual options, with live 60-minute presentations.
What programs are available for Grade 3? Grade 3 students can take the Then and Now tour (60 minutes), exploring the history exhibit to learn how and why Waterbury has grown and changed over time. An add-on art activity — Iroquois Beaded Pouch — is also available for an additional $5 per student.
What programs are available for Grade 4? Grade 4 students participate in Learning to Look (60 minutes), using Visual Thinking Strategies to explore the museum’s Early American, Modern, and Contemporary art collections.
What programs are available for Grade 5? Grade 5 students explore Peoples of Waterbury (60 minutes), tracing the city’s transformation from an agricultural community in the 1600s to an industrial powerhouse in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Is the Mattatuck Museum a good field trip for Connecticut students? Yes — the Mattatuck Museum was recognized by international educational publisher Twinkl as one of the best field trip destinations in Connecticut. Programs are aligned to Connecticut curriculum standards in visual arts, social studies, and history.
Does the museum offer outreach programs for schools? Yes. The Mattatuck Museum can bring programs directly to your school. Contact Jason Foberg, Director of Education, at jason@mattmuseum.org or (203) 753-0381 ext. 114.
Is parking available for school buses? Yes. Bus parking is available in the museum’s lot on Park Place, 144 West Main Street, Waterbury, CT.